Reuters Asia Business

By Chen Aizhu SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Saudi Aramco’s new refinery deal to buy a 10% stake in private Chinese chemical group Rongsheng Petrochemical includes agreements on crude oil storage in eastern China and the supply of plastics and petrochemicals to the Middle East energy giant. Saudi Aramco said on Monday it would buy the stake …

Saudi’s China refinery deal covers crude oil storage and petrochemical supplies Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s factory activity likely grew at a slower pace in March, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday, suggesting the economic recovery is uneven in the light of weak global demand and a property slump. The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) is expected to have slowed to 51.5 in March, compared with …

China’s factory activity likely expanded at a slower pace in March – Reuters poll Read More »

By Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand’s central bank raised its key interest rate by 25 basis points for a fifth straight meeting on Wednesday, as it attempts to bring inflation back within target while its economic recovery gathers steam against rising global headwinds. The Bank of Thailand’s (BOT) monetary policy committee voted …

Thai central bank raises key interest rate, trims growth outlook Read More »

By Miho Uranaka and Rocky Swift TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Miki House, a maker of luxury baby and children’s goods in a country with ever-fewer births, is looking overseas for both production and customers for products like its 100,000 yen ($760.40) Gold Label brand pyjamas. President Hisaichi Kimura said the Osaka-based company, which has developed …

Miki House taps ‘Made in Japan’ appeal for $760 kids pyjamas as home market shrinks Read More »

By Khanh Vu HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam’s economic growth slowed to 3.32% in the first quarter, against a 5.92% year-on-year expansion in the fourth quarter of 2022, government data showed on Wednesday, as exports of smartphones and electronics fell sharply. The Southeast Asian country, a regional manufacturing hub, reported an 11.9% fall in overall exports …

Vietnam Q1 GDP growth slows as weak demand hits exports Read More »

By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States and Japan on Tuesday signed a trade deal on electric vehicle battery minerals that is key to strengthening their battery supply chains and granting Japanese automakers wider access to a new $7,500 U.S. EV tax credit. The swiftly negotiated agreement prohibits the two countries from enacting bilateral …

US, Japan sign trade deal on electric vehicle battery minerals Read More »

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s consumer sentiment improved in March to its highest level in nine months, with inflation expectations easing from a month earlier, a central bank survey showed on Wednesday. The consumer sentiment index rose to 92.0 in March from 90.2 in February, according to the Bank of Korea. It was the highest …

South Korea consumer sentiment improves to nine-month high in March Read More »